I've often heard that there are 3 levels within the Celestial Kingdom.

I've never seen a definitive / authorized quote on it.

From what I've been able to figure out the 3 degrees are:

1) Polygamous married people.
2) Single people.
3) Blacks (servants to the others).

Those levels are my own personal guess - however, I have at least seen a couple of quotes backing up the idea that the blacks only go to the Celestial Kingdom as servants.

So now to my question:

Does anyone have any links/quotes/information on the 3 levels withing the CK?

I went there
It was awesome
The streets were paved with gold. and god's eyes burned like fire. and his voice was like rushing waters. and there were 3 horsemen who held three flaming sword to guard each level of the heavens. gimme ur wife and your money and ill guarantee u a place there. lol

Cymorg Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> I went there
> It was awesome
> The streets were paved with gold. and god's eyes
> burned like fire. and his voice was like rushing
> waters. and there were 3 horsemen who held three
> flaming sword to guard each level of the heavens.
> gimme ur wife and your money and ill guarantee u a
> place there. lol

I tried to get in one time, but some a**hole calling himself Joseph wouldn't let me through the gate. Where's St Peter when I need him?

A GA or two might have said something long ago, but it was the usual "speaking only as a man" sort of thing.

I figure if there are three levels of heaven, and three levels within the celestial kingdom, then why not three levels within each of those levels, and so on? It's all just wild imaginings anyway.

My LDS friend hinted to me once that the idea that God has a god and he has a god, etc., goes on mysteriously forever. So I guess there's no top to this pyramid scheme? Idk. She said more than she should have, apparently - too sacred. Sigh.

Too sacred! That's BS.
This was common mormon doctrine just a few years ago.
It still is mormon doctrine, but they've just backed away from it recently because it is "weird"

She just didn't want to have to try to explain that mindf*ck

bc, YOU are the one that I go to for links and quotes! What is this world coming to?

Me too. I love all your links and have nothing to reciprocate with. I am way too right brained.

All I know is no matter what they say, apparently everybody loves the caste system, and nobody more than the TSCC.

Only the top level of the CK has been specifically defined; that being comprised of those who are eligible for exaltation. Under current LDS doctrine, the other two levels are not defined, although those who died before the age of accountability and those who would have accepted the Restored Gospel "had they been permitted to tarry" (i.e. Alvin Smith) are clearly designated as being eligible for the CK.

Isn't that what you were supposed to learn when you gave them buckets of money and went to the temple 'often'?

All of those secrets are supposed to be revealed. If anyone should know it would be the anointed one.

If he doesn't know, there is no hope for the rest of us.

Well here's what I found:

D&C 131:1-4
In the celestial glory there are three heavens or degrees; And in order to obtain the highest, a man must enter into this order of the priesthood [meaning the new and everlasting covenant of marriage]; And if he does not, he cannot obtain it. He may enter into the other, but that is the end of his kingdom; he cannot have an increase.

Otherwise there doesn't seem to be anything definitive of what the lower 2 divisions comprise of.

It also makes no sense - with proxy sealings wouldn't the lower two divisions be empty?

And here's the quote by Mark E Peterson that leads to my conjecture that the bottom level is for blacks:

In spite of all he did in the pre-existent life, the Lord is willing, if the Negro accepts the gospel with real, sincere faith, and is really converted, to give him the belssing of baptism and the gift of the Holy Ghost. If that Negro is faithful all his days, he can and will enter the Celestial Kingdom. He will go there as a servant, but he will get Celestial resurrection.

Oh, I don't know that we teach that!

Peterson got that from BY, and they were both just speaking as men!

The Encyclopedia of Mormonism has a little bit about the 3 levels.
http://eom.byu.edu/index.php/Degrees_of_Glory
"There are, however, different privileges and powers within this kingdom. "In the celestial glory there are three heavens or degrees; and in order to obtain the highest, a man must enter into this order of the priesthood (meaning the new and everlasting covenant of marriage); and if he does not, he cannot obtain it. He may enter into the other, but that is the end of his kingdom; he cannot have an increase""

This organizational chart of heaven seemed absurd to me from the time I was a kid. I have a hard time understanding how a group of people can hold so many nonsensical ideas in their heads.

i have information...

it's all made up.

Well I shouldn’t have any problems since youtube all the handshakes are revealed.
I just fake me in.
Or may be there is a whatsoever settlement in after live.

No, you see you have to be worthy AND know the priesthood handshake!

The purpose of the handshake is to make heaven into an exclusive club. Its only purpose is to DISQUALIFY otherwise good people, didn't you know?

Well - there must be some kind of CK settlement negotiations.
You get baptized in the after-word, so far I heard from my TBM they believe that people get the missionary discussions (lessons) there too.
There are tithing settlement to go to the temple, what is smart so you can pay less and be still worthy.
So I am sure. There will be a CK settlement there too. LDS it's all about money there is nothing in the LDS what money can’t buy.

Maybe Swedenborg said something in his writings.

When I was a kid (back in the 70's) we had a board game we played as family during Family Home Evening. My parents bought it at Deseret Books on one of our trips to visit family in Utah. I don't remember the name of it, but it resembled The Game of Life that was popular at the time. You advanced on the board, rolling dice, pulling cards, etc. until you end up in the Telestial, Terrestrial, one of three degrees of the Celestial Kingdom or even Outer Darkness. The life decisions that determined where you spent enternity seemed to be based on the book Mormon Doctrine by Bruce McConkie. Of course his book isn't doctrine, but it sure was treated as such at the time. We were given autographed copies as a prize for winning Regional Scripture Chase competition. My sister and I laugh now about how the church has pulled away from teaching eternal progression after we were so indoctrinated in it by playing that game as children. There were very clear requirements to make each kingdom.

Dante described more degrees of glory. The Masons have a great many degrees. My grandfather was at least a 32nd degree Mason. If JS had lived longer he would have come up with who knows how many degrees of the CK. I believe there is only one level in heaven. The more one dreams up separated degrees the less we will know anyone. One thing I do know is that JS isn't there.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 01/10/2013 08:45AM by rhgc.

I know a woman who told me she and her husband are going there and they were concerned about one of their daughters not living according to the gospel so they didn't think she'd get there...a wee bit presumptive I thought....

Ron Burr

I've always been taught that the 3 degrees were tied to Jacob's Ladder and ordinances.

The only corroborating link I found was this:
http://www.lds.org/liahona/1987/06/the-desires-of-our-hearts?lang=eng&query=%22three+degrees%22

So what I was taught (& taught others) was that:
CK1 = Sealed in Temple
CK2 = Endowed, but not sealed
CK3 = Baptized, but no Temple ordinances

I've also heard the Priesthood thrown in there, but results varied between 2 & 3

The link I provided does NOT reference CK2, but only 1 & 3.

From a vicarious work perspective, this makes no sense, because anyone that accepts the gospel wouldn't stop at Baptism, but would continue to receive all their ordinances.

I do know that I've seen references for your CK1 (polygamous marriage) so I will likely look for those links next.

P.S. I found a link to a manual that says any conjecture on CK2 or CK3 is speculative, and there is no revelation on it:
http://www.lds.org/manual/doctrine-and-covenants-student-manual/sections-122-131/section-131-keys-to-exaltation?lang=eng&query=%22three+degrees%22
...but that doesn't mean there weren't early church discussions that they are embarrassed about now.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 01/10/2013 10:15AM by justrob.

Thanks - that's as good of guess as any.

Here is a link about Blacks and CK3... but it isn't exactly official.

http://en.fairmormon.org/Mormonism_and_racial_issues/Mark_E._Peterson_claims_that_Blacks_become_servants_in_heaven/Maher_claims_that_blacks_go_to_heaven_as_slaves

There were 2 cruxes:
1) Elder Mark E. Petersen talking at BYU... but could have been alluding to the rationale of #2
2)JFS emphasizing servitude because they couldn't go to the temple, and therefore couldn't make it to CK1

Yep that's the quote I was mostly basing my idea on - I believe BY may have also said something similar, but I'm too lazy to search for it.

The black lady that was sealed to JS as his eternal servant also adds a little credence to the idea. (So reading between the lines I'm interpreting "ministering angels" to basically mean black slaves to Celestial gods.)

Obviously now that blacks can get temple endowments and sealings this is all defunct. Which is kind of humorous if an entire level of the Celestial kingdom got eradicated with the 1978 change.

However, if the interpretation is baptism vs. endowment that level also got eradicated when by proxy endowments were instituted.

So either way it appears to me that Mormon mythology only has 2 levels left in the CK due to changes in doctrine...

Plus who is going to choose to never marry when it means you are damned for all eternity (can't progress) when all you have to do is pick a spouse on the other side and get sealed by proxy during the millennium?

Which pretty much leaves only 1 level...

It's another concept from the masons and their "levels".

http://www.masonicworld.com/education/files/STRUCTURE%20OF%20FREEMASONRY.htm

Mormons will be really surprised when they get to heaven and see the top Amway people above them....

I had an argument with a TBM many years ago about the hierarchies of heaven. He said "But there are hierarchies on Earth, not everyone attains the same level." I said, "But Heaven isn't Earth. All injustices are made right, and Jesus only said that in my father's house are many mansions, he didn't say anything about which ones were the good ones." He only blinked at me and changed the subject.

Celestial- White republicans, served missions, married in the temple, followed every mandate from SLC, paid over 10%, no one over found out that they were addicted to child porn people who served in the senate (this overrides all others), was mission president, was a 70 and up. Celebrities. Bishop by 35. Stake president by 45. jews, since they will all convert. people with food storage for one year and had over 5 kids. made over 50k/year. drank liquor, but no one ever knew. named all the kids after GA's or had LDS royalty last name. died believing blacks and gays were lesser people. polygamist and people who denied the church ever taught polygamy.

Terrestial- married to not completely white spouse. Lived outside of utah for more than 4 years. Thought Obama was not a total agent of the devil. Had the money, but did not buy a condo at city creek. Donated to the Salvation Army. Served a mission but does not go to the reunions. Was a counselor 2 times before being called as bishop. people with 3 months of food storage. people with 3 kids or less. made from 30-50k. drank coke before 2012. used bible names for kids. died believing polygamy would come back and were happy about it. Thought polygamy was a doctrine.

Telestial- Inactives that paid a full tithe, but never spoke out about the church and repented right before death. Was active his whole life and did everything he was supposed to, however, had over 5 independent thoughts or secretly resented FHE. Moon quakers. peole who read the verses not included in the lesson. people with a 72 hour kit. childless couples. people who made less than 30 k/year. Drank Mt. dew. named a kid Thomas, McKay, Dallin, Monson, or Jimmer or after a Book of Mormon character. died thinking that the church never taught racism, and that was a good thing. polynesians. Accepted that polygamy was a trial that had passed and admitted the church taught it.

Outer Darkness. Non-whites, except subservient polynesians. Satan, Cain, bigfoot, non-members, apostates, inactives, unrepentant democrats, people who read history, muslims, people who did not want kids. people under the poverty line. coffee drinkers. named kids Darren, warren, Ethan, or named a child after a celebrity. Died having sex and enjoying it. teenage girl who turned down JS for sex,



Edited 7 time(s). Last edit at 01/10/2013 12:08PM by kori.

I remember back in the day’s there was a black sticky board and three planets in different sizes. A big one bright yellow, a smaller one white and a small gray one. They explained it like Sun, Earth and Moon.

I had always a problem with these 3 levels of heaven.
As a kid I thought what if mom doesn’t make it and dad does?
For me as a child, may be 10 years old, was it devastating to think loosing somewhere in the process one of my parents.
I remember asking the home teacher about my concerns and he told me than, that I would not loose them even if they didn’t make it to the same level. They still could visit each other.
This made for me even as a 10 year old, even less sense than before.
I remember than asking why they are 3 levels of heaven when the people can go wherever they want anyway. The answer than was that I am too young to understand but when I am older it would make sense.
No sir I am much older now than back than but it still make no sense.

I remember also we where in the aronic priesthood class and one of the youngsters asked, how do we know all the knowledge necessary to being god when we become god and create our own earth. How do we become the skills to being a god, meaning how to build a new earth. The answer was, that God would guide as, as he was guided by grandpa god to build this earth.

Is god a stupid apprentice? No wonder nothing works here if according to the Mormon teachings our god is still learning by doing.